Multi-rung supporting means for elongated building services supply means

ABSTRACT

A multi-tier support means for supporting service supply means is provided including a first tier having a first tier bearer element. The first tier bearer element has a clip fixedly associated therewith. The clip is adapted for attaching the first tier bearer element to a spine. Each clip includes two, upright spaced apart resilient tongues adapted to clasp the spine between themselves and each has a barb formation at or near a free end of the tongues adapted to overlie a respective one of the margins. The multi-tier support means further includes a second tier having a second tier bearer element. The second tier is located underneath the first tier and the two tiers are connected to one another via a connection between the first tier bearer element and the second tier bearer element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a multi-rung or multi-tier supporting system for supporting service supply means and, more particularly, to a device for containing the service supply means in bearer elements of the multi-tier supporting system. Service supply means may be low voltage electric power cables (for example, such as cables rated for 50 Volts or less), communication cables, water or gas pipes or other elongated conductors for the supply or distribution of services within a building. Such supporting means necessarily include one or more bearer elements on which the service supply means rest. Typically the bearer element has been the floor of a tray or trough fixedly associated with the building being serviced, for example carried by wall brackets or suspended from a ceiling or other overhead building component by tie rods or the like. Probably, the most frequently occurring service supply means are electric cables; namely, data and signal communication transmission wires or cables. For that reason, supporting means are usually referred to in the art as “cable trays”; irrespective of the service supply means that may be supported in any instance (notwithstanding recent departures in the form of the bearer elements from that of an integral floor of a traditional tray or trough). When convenient the term “cable trays” is used accordingly hereinafter.

2. Brief Description of Prior Developments

As stated above, traditionally the bearer elements of cable trays comprised the floor of a shallow trough or elongated tray. The service supply means resided within the trough. The trough, including its floor, was constructed from sheet material, for example steel, plastics or fibrous cement. Alternatively, at least the floor of the trough has been made of expanded metal sheet. This is preferred as it eliminates the possibility of the trough retaining water or detritus that may be damaging to the service supply means.

In other instances floor-like bearer elements came to be replaced by a plurality of spaced apart rungs extending between rigid stiles. The wall brackets or tie rods are affixed to the stiles, so that the supporting means as a whole resemble a conventional ladder in a substantially horizontal disposition. Such ladder-like supporting means are still customarily referred to as cable trays.

In more recent times, the stiles of such ladder-like cable trays have been replaced by a central spine, and the rungs by a plurality of spaced apart bearer elements extending as cantilevers from each side of the spine. The bearer elements preferably have upturned free end parts, so as to retain the service supply means. This is advantageous as the service supply means may be placed on the bearer elements from the sides, instead of having to be pulled into position from one end of the cable tray.

The last mentioned prior art is well exemplified by the published specification of Australian Patent application 99/943515 and the international publication WO 98/24160 of International application PCT/AU/00788 (both in the name of Ramset Fasteners (Aust) Pty Ltd). In that cited prior art, the spine is a rectangular sectioned tube, and the cantilever bearer elements extend through clearance openings piercing the tube walls. It is apparent that the upturned free ends of the cantilever bearer elements are formed after the elements have been passed through those openings, otherwise it would not be possible to put them in place. This is disadvantageous, as it would require expensive manual operations or the use of complex special purpose machines in the manufacture of the cited prior art cable trays.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,585 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,054, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties, each relate to supporting means for elongated building service supply means which correct the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. Namely, each patent provides a support means for service supply means. In these patents, the support means comprise a spine, a plurality of bearer element spaced along the spine and each of the bear elements is connected to the spine via a clip, e.g. a spring clip. The support means in these patents allows the supply means or cables to be placed on the bearer elements from the sides, instead of having to be pulled into position from one end of the cable tray. U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,054 further provides a combined safety clip and closure for the support means which prevents the cables or service means from inadvertently exiting out of the top sides of the cantilevered arms of the bearer elements and also prevents any of the plurality of bearer elements from inadvertently disengaging from the spine.

Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,658 describes a support system for data transmission lines and the like, including a rail formed as a plurality of separate sections, and splices for connecting the rail sections end to end. In one embodiment a plurality of supports extend down from one or more rail sections at intervals spaced along the sections. Each support has a generally vertical column and a series of arms extending laterally outwardly from the column along the length of the column at different elevations. The arms of each support cooperate with the arms of the other supports for supporting a series of horizontal runs of data transmission lines and the like at the different elevations.

However, despite the above advances in the art, a strong need still exists for a service supply support system or cable supply support system which may accommodate securely/safely a multitude of cables of various types at different elevations within a limited amount of space. This is especially needed in building where available corridors of space are limited.

Moreover, there is also a need in the art for a cable support system which not only handles a multitude of various cables, etc. but at the same time is also equipped to prevent inadvertent slippage of the cable from the a bearer element holding the service supply means and/or the inadvertent slippage of any of the bearer elements from engagement with a spine to which it is connected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a multi-tier support for supporting service supply means is provided comprising a first tier and a second tier. The first tier has a first tier bearer element. The first tier bearer element has a clip fixedly associated therewith. The clip is adapted for attaching the first tier bearer element to a spine. The clip comprises two, upright spaced apart resilient tongues adapted to clasp the spine between the tongues. The second tier is located underneath the first tier and is connected to the first tier. The second tier has a second tier bearer element. The first tier and second tier are connected to one another by a connection between the first tier bearer element and the second tier bearer element. The first bearer element, the second bearer element and the clip are comprised of an integrally formed one-piece member.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a multi-tier support for supporting service supply means from a spine is provided comprising a clip, a first tier and a second tier. The clip is adapted to snap-lock connect to the spine. The clip comprises two, upright spaced apart resilient tongues adapted to clasp the spine between the tongues and each having a barb formation at or near a free end of the tongues adapted to overlie a margin of the spine. The first tier has a first tier bearer element connected to said clip. The first tier bearer element comprising at least two first tier cantilevered arms extending from said clip in general opposite directions. Each of the first tier cantilevered arms comprises an upturned free end. The clip is adapted for connecting the first tier bearer element to the spine. The second tier is underneath the first tier and connected to said first tier. The second tier has a second tier bearer element. The second tier bearer element comprises at least two second tier cantilevered arms extending in general opposite directions from one another. Each of said second tier cantilevered arms comprises an upturned free end. The first tier and second tier are connected to one another by a connection between the first tier bearer element and the second tier bearer element which connects to a bottom side of the first bearer element.

In accordance with one method of the present invention, a method for installing a multi-tier support system having a multi-tier support and a spine is provided comprising providing the multi-tier support with a first tier having a first bearer element, a second tier having a second bearer element, and a snap-lock clip, wherein the snap-lock clip is located on a top side of the first bearer element, and wherein the second bearer element is located beneath the first bearer element; and attaching the snap-lock clip to the spine to thereby attach the first fearer element to the spine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and other features of the present invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front side view of a two tier, multi-tier support of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support shown in FIG. 1 attached to a spine;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the support shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial front side view of an alternate embodiment of the support shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the spine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a component connected to the spine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a front end view of one of the tongues of the support shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a front end view of the spine and part of the support shown in FIG. 2 being initially connected to each other;

FIG. 9 is a front end view of the spine and part of the support as shown in FIG. 8 further connected to each other;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view showing full connection of the support with the spine; and

FIG. 11 is a front end view of an alternate embodiment of the support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-10 depict a multi-tier support system for service supply means of a first embodiment of the present invention. The multi-tier support system in this embodiment comprises a multi-tier support means 2 (as shown in FIG. 1) and a spine 10 (as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 8-10). The multi-tier support means 2 of the first embodiment comprises two tiers, i.e. a first tier 3 and a second tier 4. The spine 10 is attached to the first tier 3 of the multi-support means 2 in forming the multi-tier support system. It is noted that the multi-tier support means 2 is not limited to only two tiers, but rather the multi-tier support means may consist of an unlimited number of tiers or rungs. The present invention by utilizing two or more tiers of service supply means support arms, causes the creation a tiering effect, thereby allowing for a multitude of different service supply means to be accommodated securely/safely at different elevations even within a limited amount of space.

In a preferred application of the present invention a plurality of the multi-support means 2 are provided which are spaced along and attached to the spine 10. The multi-support means 2 has a clip 22 which is used to attach the multi-support means 2 to the spine 10. The first tier of the multi-support means 2 comprises a bearer element 11.

The bearer element 11 of the first tier 3 is preferably a molded plastic or polymer item, for example of glass-filled nylon. However, the first tier bearer element 11 may be comprised of any suitable type of material(s). The first tier bearer element 11 comprises two cantilever arms 20 with preferably upturned ends 21. The resilient clip 22 is preferably molded integrally with the bearer element 11 at a central top side.

The second tier of the multi-tier support means 2 of the first embodiment also comprises a second bearer element 211. The second tier bearer element 211, like the first tier bearer element 11, is preferably a molded plastic or polymer item, for example of glass-filled nylon, but may be comprised of any suitable type of material(s). The second tier bearer element 211 also comprise two cantilever arms 220 with upturned ends 221.

The first and second tiers 3, 4 are connected to one another by a first connecting element 6 or connecting rod. The first connecting element 6 is preferably located vertically in between the first tier bearer element 11 and the second tier bearer element 211. The multi-tier support system may be manufactured as just one piece. When manufacturing the multi-tier support means 2 as just one piece, the connecting element 6 is formed integrally with both the first tier bearer element 11 and the second tier bearer element 211. Any molding techniques known in the art may be used in forming the above integral connection between the each of the tiers, e.g. the first tier 3 and second tier 4. The connecting element 6 functions to suspend and space the second tier from the bottom of the first tier.

In an alternate embodiment, each of the tiers may be joined or connected as separate pieces. When the first and second tiers are joined as separate pieces, the connecting element 6 is preferably in the form of a detachable/attachable element which may be used for detaching and/or attaching the first tier 3 and second tier 4 from one another. It is noted that any method known by those skilled in the art for connecting members to one another as separate pieces may be used in accordance with the present invention. This embodiment allows a customer to expand or reduce the number of tiers in the support means 2 of the multi-tier support system even after the system has already been installed. This detachable/attachable feature of the tiers or rungs allows the customer to meet his or her specific needs and not incur substantial expenditures for additional tiers he or she does not require.

As mentioned, the multi-tier support system further comprises at least one spine 10 attached to the first tier 3 or top tier of the multi-tier support means 2. FIG. 2 illustrates the spine 10 attached to the first tier 3 of the multi-tier support means 2 of the first embodiment.

Spine 10 is a length-of inverted channel section comprising a channel web 12 and two channel flanges 13. It may be roll or press formed from sheet steel, preferably coated with a rust resistant alloy, for example an aluminum-zinc alloy. Thus, the flanges 13 possess a degree of resilience, such that their free edges may be elastically pressed towards each other to a limited extent, as shown in FIG. 8, but will return to their original position when the loading pressure is relaxed, as shown in FIG. 9.

In addition, the spine 10 is furnished with clip locating formations in the form of equally spaced apart holes 14, arranged in rows extending along the respective flanges 13.

As shown in FIG. 2, the spine 10 is attached to the first tier 3 of the multi-tier system via clip 22 which is associated with the first tier bearer element 11. Each clip 22 engages a certain portion of the spine 10 for forming a complete connection to the spine 10. In particular, clip 22 is preferably a spring clip which is integral with the top surface of the first tier bearer element 11 for affixing the first tier bearer element 11 to the spine 10.

Clip 22 comprises two, upwardly directed, resilient tongues 23. Each is furnished with a barb formation 24 at its free end, and a protruding stud 25 intermediate its ends. Each stud 25 is dimensioned to fit neatly into any of the holes 14.

As may best be seen in FIG. 7, each barb formation 24 presents an inclined upper face 28 and a horizontal under face 29. Those faces meet at a contact line 30. It should also be noted that the barb formation 24 projects substantially further from the tongue 23 than does the stud 25.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3, 4 and 8-10, the clip 22 further comprises two beads 26 near, but spaced from, the roots of the tongues 23. As may best be seen in FIG. 3, at least the upper margins of the faces of the beads 26 opposed to the tongues 23 are inclined, so that they and the bottom margins of the respectively adjacent tongues define two grooves 27 which are somewhat wider at the top than they are at the bottom. The grooves 27 are dimensioned so that the free end margins of the flanges 13 are a neat fit within the bottom parts of the grooves 27.

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a detailed view of how the spine 10 is attached to the first tier 3 of the multi-tier support means 2 in forming the multi-tier support system of the present invention. From those figures it is shown that the assembly of a bearer element 11 to the spine 12, at a location corresponding to that of an opposed pair of holes 14, may be achieved simply by pushing the bearer element into position from below. At the start of that assembly operation the inclined faces 28 (see FIG. 7) of the barb formations 24 bear against the free edges of the flanges 13. This assists the operator to guide the flanges 23 into position between the tongues 23. Further upward movement of the bearer element brings the contact lines 30 of the barb formations into pressure contact with the respective outer side faces of the flanges 13. This may cause the free ends of the flanges to move towards each other. More importantly, it causes the tips of the tongues 23 to be resiliently urged apart. As the upward movement of the bearer element continues, the barb formations 24 approach the web 12, so that it becomes progressively more difficult for them to deflect the flanges 13. As a result, the tongues 23 are spread further apart. The extent to which the barb formations 24 project from the tongues beyond that of the studs 25 is such that the studs are held clear of the flanges 13 during the upward movement of the bearer element relative to the spine. When the contact line 30 approaches the web 12, barb formations 24 are no longer able to deflect the flanges 13 to a significant degree, which return substantially to there undeformed position, and their free edge margins may enter the grooves 27 (see FIG. 8). As soon as the barb formations pass beyond the web 12 the tongues 23 spring back to their undeflected position, the studs 25 enter the respective holes 14, the flanges 13 become fully homed in the grooves 27, and the now substantially horizontal underfaces of the barb formations come into overlying contact with the margins of the upper face of the web 12.

Thus, the first tier bearer element 11 becomes very firmly affixed to the spine 10, at least insofar as downward loads on the bearer element are concerned, in that the studs 25 are within the holes 14, the flanges 13 are prevented from moving apart to free the studs 25, by the web 12 at one end and the beads 26 at the other end, and there are no contacting surfaces producing any reaction loading on the tongues tending to separate them.

In use, the multi-tier support system of the first embodiment is suspended by connection of the spine 10 of the support system to the overhead component of the building being serviced via, e.g. two or more threaded tie rods. In particular, the spine 10 may be suspended by two or more threaded tie rods 15 (see FIG. 2), of which only one appears in the drawings, extending downwardly from any appropriate, fixed, overhead component of the building being serviced. The spine 10 may be secured to each tie rod 15 by means of a U-shaped saddle 16 (see FIGS. 2 and 6) into which the spine 10 neatly sits. To that end, the channel web 12 is pierced by a plurality of clearance holes 17 and the saddle 16 is likewise pierced by a clearance hole 18. The tie rod 15 extends through a selected hole 17 and the hole 18. The saddle 16 may then be supported by a nut and washer 19 on the tie rod, bearing against the underface of the saddle 16. If desired, the affixture of the spine to the tie rod may be made more secure by a second nut and washer 19 on the tie rod, bearing against the upper face of the web 12.

As is well known, it is customary for buildings to be dimensioned having regard to a standard modular dimension. That is to say, the major dimensions of the building conform to whole numbers of the modular dimension. This enables items such as window frames, ceiling tiles, and the like, which conform to the modular dimension, to be installed without requiring to be trimmed to size. Thus, for preference, the spine 10 is provided to the user in lengths that are a whole number multiple of the modular dimension, and the centre distances between holes 17 and holes 14 are that such one or a whole number plurality of such centre distances equals the modular dimension applicable to the building being serviced.

FIG. 11 represents a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the multi-tier supporting means 302 of the multi-tier support system has the first and second tiers 3, 4 and a third tier 5. The first 3 and second tier 4 are preferably the same as the two tiers in the first embodiment. Further, the third tier 5 comprises a third bearer element 311 which is preferably identical to the second bear element 211 of the second tier 4 of the first embodiment. Thus, the third tier bearer element 311 is preferably a molded plastic item, for example of glass-filled nylon, but may be comprised of any suitable type of material(s). The third tier bearer element 311 comprises two cantilever arms 320 with upturned ends 321. The three tier structure functions in very much the same manner as the two tier system, except that it has an extra tier 5 for holding additional service supply means and, thus, maximizing additional storage space. In addition, the third tier embodiment 302 is preferably formed using connecting elements 6 and 306 in very similar fashion to how the two tier embodiment 2 described above was formed. Accordingly as with the two tier embodiment 2, the three tier multi-tier embodiment 302 may be manufactured as one piece or alternatively one or more of the three tiers may be attached separately to form this embodiment 302.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the three bearer elements 11, 211, 311 are integrally formed as a one-piece member with the clip 22. In an alternate embodiment, one or more of the bearer elements could be separately formed and attached to each other, such as at connection 400. Connection 400 could be a removable connector or a snap-lock connection, for example. In an alternate embodiment, one or more of the bearer elements 11, 211, 311 of the multi-tier supporting means 2, or multi-tier supporting means 302 could comprise a closure device, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,054. The shape of the clip 22 could also be different, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,054 for example.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A multi-tier support for supporting service supply means comprising: a first tier having a first tier bearer element, said first tier bearer element having a clip fixedly associated therewith, wherein said clip is adapted for attaching said first tier bearer element to a spine, wherein said clip comprises two, upright spaced apart resilient tongues adapted to clasp the spine between the tongues; and a second tier located underneath said first tier and connected to said first tier, said second tier having a second tier bearer element, wherein said first tier and second tier are connected to one another by a connection between said first tier bearer element and said second tier bearer element, wherein said first bearer element, said second bearer element and said clip are comprised of an integrally formed one-piece member.
 2. The multi-tier support according to claim 1, wherein said first tier bearer element comprises at least two first tier cantilevered arms extending from the clip in general opposite directions.
 3. The multi-tier support according to claim 2, wherein each cantilevered arm comprises an upturned free end.
 4. The multi-tier support according to claim 3, wherein each of said tongues comprises a barb formation with an inclined upper face serving to guide the spine into position between the tongues of during the assembly of said first bearer element to the spine.
 5. The multi-tier support according to claim 3, wherein said connection between said first tier bearer element and said second tier bearer element is achieved by an integral connector element located vertically between said first tier bearer element and said second tier bearer element, wherein said connector element connects said first tier bearer element to said second tier bearer element.
 6. The multi-tier support according to claim 5, wherein said second tier bearer element comprises at least two second tier cantilevered arms extending from a base of the connector element in general opposite directions.
 7. The multi-tier support according to claim 6, wherein each of second tier cantilevered arms comprises an upturned free end.
 8. The multi-tier support according to claim 1, further comprising a third tier underneath said second tier and connected to said second tier, said third tier having a third tier bearer element, wherein said second tier and third tier are connected to one another by a second connector element located vertically between said second tier bearer element and said third tier bearer element.
 9. The multi-tier support according to claim 8, wherein said third tier bearer element comprise at least two, third tier cantilevered arms extending from a base of the second connector element in general opposite directions.
 10. A multi-tier support for supporting service supply means from a spine, comprising: a clip adapted to snap-lock connect to the spine, wherein said clip comprises two, upright spaced apart resilient tongues adapted to clasp the spine between the tongues and each having a barb formation at or near a free end of the tongues adapted to overlie a margin of the spine; a first tier having a first tier bearer element connected to said clip, said first tier bearer element comprising at least two first tier cantilevered arms extending from said clip in general opposite directions, wherein each of said first tier cantilevered arms comprises an upturned free end, wherein said clip is adapted for connecting said first tier bearer element to the spine, and a second tier underneath said first tier and connected to said first tier, said second tier having a second tier bearer element, said second tier bearer element comprising at least two second tier cantilevered arms extending in general opposite directions from one another and wherein each of said second tier cantilevered arms comprises an upturned free end, wherein said first tier and second tier are connected to one another by a connection between said first tier bearer element and said second tier bearer element which connects to a bottom side of the first bearer element.
 11. The multi-tier support system according to claim 10, wherein said connection between said first tier bearer element and said second tier bearer element is achieved by a connector element located vertically between said first tier bearer element and said second tier bearer element.
 12. The multi-tier support system according to claim 11, wherein said connector element is integrally molded with second tier bearer element.
 13. The multi-tier support system according to claim 11, wherein said first tier and said second tier are attachable and detachable from one another at said connector element.
 14. The multi-tier support system according to claim 10, wherein each said barb formation has an inclined upper face serving to guide the spine into position between the tongues during the assembly of said first bearer element to the spine.
 15. A method for installing a multi-tier support system having a multi-tier support and a spine, comprising: providing the multi-tier support with a first tier having a first bearer element, a second tier having a second bearer element, and a snap-lock clip, wherein the snap-lock clip is located on a top side of the first bearer element, and wherein the second bearer element is located beneath the first bearer element; and attaching the snap-lock clip to the spine to thereby attach the first fearer element to the spine.
 16. A method as in claim 15 wherein said first bearer element is molded integrally with said second bearer element.
 17. A method as in claim 15 further comprising suspending said second bearer element from said first bearer element at a bottom side of said first bearer element.
 18. A method as in claim 17 wherein a connection between the first and second bearer elements comprises a detachable connection.
 19. A method as in claim 17 wherein a connection between the first and second bearer elements comprises a snap-lock connection.
 20. A method as in claim 15 further comprising suspending a third bearer element from a bottom side of the second bearer element by a spacing connector.
 21. A method as in claim 15 wherein the first bearer element is connected to the spine by the clip and the second bearer element is subsequently connected to the first bearer element. 